RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
 

I think if one is afraid to go bowhunting without a gun, then one probably should not be bowhunting. If one is so afraid for life and limb then either stay home or hunt with gun only. That is how I see things here, anyway. The entire concept of hunting with a more primative type weapon is thrown out the window if you are also carrying a gun.

RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
 

Personally,I wouldn't feel overly comfortable having any semiauto short of a desert eagle or a .460 rowland conversion for protection against large mammals such as bears IF i carried a handgun while hunting. Since i don't live in bear country and only get to hunt in bear country occaisionally,i don't worry much about it.

RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
 

Steve - No one said anything about being afraid!! The point in carrying is for self defense in bear country. If I am archery hunting deer in bear country and it is legal for me to carry a handgun, I will carry one solely for defense purposes. The bow and arrow would be my hunting weapon. There is no way, other than an extremely lucky brain shot with an arrow, to stop a charging bear with a bow. And even with a handgun, unless you are aware of a nearby bear and are ready for him, you are not going to stand a chance if he is close enough. And to fight off a bear (talking black bear), even a small one would be a tough proposition. Except for my previously mentioned incident, most bear I've encountered at close range did their best to put distance between me and them quickly. But there is always the potential to come face to face with that 1 in 100 and I aim to be ready for it.

RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
 

Blacck bears should scare, but I would consider 45LC Ruger loads as minimum for bear deturrent. You can be sure he will be mad, if he doesn't scare off!

RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
 

Steve,
I am not afraid of bears I have hunted them with bow 20+ yearsnow inCanada, Maine and WV. The point is if one decides to chomp on me on my way walking out of the mountains, (as one tried to attack a fellow hunter this past weekend), I hope to at least scare it off with the gun. Fortunate for my friend there was enough daylight left to shoot the bear with his bow at very close range (less than 5 yds.) as it was about to charge or so he thought after the bear had acted very aggressive toward him. The bear actually ran at him from 60 yds away and false charged and then laid it's ears back and came at him sideways from 5 yds. Most of the time they run off but in the future I will surely get down with enough daylight left to get back to my atv. Bears in that part of the country don't seem as fearful of people.

Jim

RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
 

If you value life, go with a B.F.R. in 45/70

RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
 

taurus tracker in 44 mag. it can handle the buffalo bore rounds, and should be sufficient for any nasty critter you'll run across in the lower 48.

RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
 

Something in the .500 Smith would definitely be a blackbear stopper.

RE: Pistol for Protection While Hunting
 

Hi Bronko,

Where does it say you can carry any type of firearm for a backup during archery season? For sure you were not allowed in the past, even with a caryy permit.I'm definately not trying to start an argument because we have some bear problems where I hunt too.

Thanks